Road accidents remain among the deadliest types of accidents in the country, with drug-impaired driving identified as a major contributing factor.
To tackle this issue, the police have introduced a Mouth Swab Test to detect drivers under the influence of drugs, effective from today.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Traffic Control and Road Safety, W. P. J. Senadeera, said the test can screen for 12 different types of drugs, allowing authorities to identify drug-impaired drivers and present them before a Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) when necessary.
DIG Senadeera added that the Mouth Swab Test will first be implemented as a pilot project in the Colombo, Colombo Central, Colombo North, and Colombo South police divisions, under the guidance and approval of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The police stated that after the pilot phase, the test will be expanded nationwide. In other parts of the country, drivers suspected of drug-impaired driving will continue to be tested and handled according to existing procedures, with cases presented before a JMO as usual.
